My Ex’s Roommates: Chapter 41

Samantha and Terry McNeil weren’t what I expected. Samantha was like a butterfly, constantly fluttering around to everyone, making sure everyone was taken care of. Terry was a statue. He answered when someone asked him a question but he seemed content to just watch his wife do all the talking. Even so, it was beyond clear that he loved his wife and children deeply. I didn’t have anything to relate their family to but I hadn’t realized real families, families not on TV, could be such solid units. They didn’t just tolerate each other. They loved each other deeply. Silas was a different person with them around. His smile never left his face as he rushed to tell his parents about the game the night before. And both of his parents listened intently, their eyes full of pride.

I had my brothers but our parents had never cared about us, our father especially. When he wasn’t shouting it was because he was passed out on drugs. Even if I hadn’t been found naked in bed with three men by the older couple, I would’ve been uncomfortable in their presence. They were so warm and seemed to genuinely care when they asked questions. It was a stark reminder of what I didn’t have and just how beneath them I really felt.

“Harper, tell us about your family.” Samantha sat across from me on the couch with her husband’s arm locked around her. She leaned forward, her eyes focused as she smiled. “You’ve had to listen to us all rambling for long enough. I want to get to know you now. Silas has never had a girlfriend before. This feels big!”

Silas swore under his breath next to me. “Mom. Come on. I’ve had girlfriends.”

“Hush.” She waved him off, still solely focused on me.

With the way my thoughts were swirling around in my head, I hated that she’d asked me about my family. I opened my mouth but had to search for the words and what was probably only a few seconds felt like hours. I felt the same urge to hide who I was that I had around Jake’s friends and family. In the face of what was considered normal, I was ashamed of just how abnormal my family was. I wasn’t ashamed of my brothers, though, and I didn’t want to be liked for being palatable anymore. If Silas’ family was going to like me, I wanted it to be for me and who I was as a person.

“Both of my parents are dead. My three older brothers basically raised me. They’re in prison now, though.” I licked my dry lips and squeezed my hands together between my knees. “Silas took me to see them a few weeks ago.”

Terry sat forward with a frown, finally deciding to speak up. “What are they in prison for?”

“Honey!” Samantha patted his knee and shook her head. “You don’t need to tell us anything you aren’t comfortable telling us.”

“If our boy is going to be around her, I need to know he isn’t being put in dangerous situations. He’s worked too hard to get caught up in someone else’s family drama.”

Dylan and Carter shifted uncomfortably and Silas spoke up, his voice taking on the grumpy edge that had vanished with the appearance of his family. “Dad, that’s not-”

I cleared my throat and put my hand on his arm. “My brothers found out that our father tried to use me to get more drugs and they beat him almost to death. They are my protectors and they’re the best men I’ve ever known. They’re also serving another few years so you don’t have to worry about Silas getting involved in my family drama.”

Carter gripped the back of my neck and leaned over to whisper to me. “You’re beautiful, Harper.”

The unexpected compliment took some of the sting out of feeling like a reject in front of Silas’ parents. I flashed him a smile and turned my attention back to Terry and Samantha. “I actually have to get to work so I need to go get ready. It was really nice to meet all of you and I hope y’all have a fun day hanging out. Silas deserves it after that fifty-eight-yard field goal he kicked last night.”

Silas growled and pulled me back down when I tried to get up. “Dad, apologize. I know you worry but that doesn’t mean you can insult Harper.”

Samantha fanned herself and huffed at her husband. “I can’t believe you, Terry. That was so rude. You just forced the poor girl to spill her life story in front of a bunch of strangers who barged into her home, uninvited, I might add. Silas is right. Apologize.”

“No, honestly, it’s fine. I get it. I’m definitely not from a normal family like yours and it’s fair to want the best for your son.” Oh, god, I was going to cry. What the hell was wrong with me? I blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “I really do have to go get ready for work.”

Dylan leaned over and grabbed my hand. “You are the best.”

“What the hell is normal?” Samantha asked at the same time.

“I’m sorry.” Terry leaned forward with his elbows on his knees as he focused an intense stare at me. I almost could’ve believed that he was Silas’ real, biological father based on that stare alone. “I didn’t mean to upset you or make you think you aren’t good enough for our son. I just worry about Silas. We didn’t find him until he was fourteen and he’d already been exposed to so much. I never want him in any situation where that old life could try and sink its claws into our sweet boy.”

Silas groaned as his face turned red. “Even if Harper’s brothers were terrible criminals that wouldn’t mean she automatically is, too. She’s a goody-two-shoes. I’ve never seen her even jaywalk. She’s also so damn serious about football that I think she’d murder me if I did anything to chance our season or my career. She’s a good girl. You don’t need to worry about her.”

His little brothers elbowed each other. Kelson smirked at me. “If you murder Silas you can always corrupt me. We’ve already gotten to second base pretty much.”

“You’re going to have to wait in line, kid. Even if Silas was murdered, there’s me and Dylan to get through.” Carter rolled his eyes. “And who’s been teaching you about the bases because seeing someone’s tits doesn’t count as getting to second base.”

“Kelson!” Samantha sighed and rubbed her temples. “I swear I raised my family better than this, Harper. Between my younger sons and my husband, I’m sure you’re ready for us to get out of your hair.”

“No, not at all.” I forced myself to relax and get over the awkwardness. “It’s really nice that you worry about Silas and clearly care about him so much. He deserves that.”

“Can I ask one more question before I take my foot out of my mouth?” Terry looked between the four of us and his brows furrowed. “Have all of you thought about what it would mean for your future and careers if this gets out?”

I let out a shaky laugh, fully understanding that if I didn’t get out of there I was going to cry. “I’ll let the guys handle that question. I have to go to work. It was really nice to meet all of you.”

That time I didn’t give any of my guys the chance to grab me. I also decided that I didn’t have time to change or pretend I was gathering my things for a shift at the library. I hurried out the front door and grabbed my phone from my pocket as I jogged away from the house.

Casey answered after a few rings. “What’s up, bestie?”

“Can I come over?”